Guardians of the Light (Book 1: Rebirth)

Chapter 16

Outside the cave, a twig cracked waking Ronin fully up from his vision. He had learned two things from his vision, one of the prophecy surrounding The Darkness and it’s return, two that the Order of Shadows were trying to summon The Darkness but couldn’t without this chosen one. This meant the Guardians would have some time to figure out who this chosen one was.

What troubled Ronin was the fact that this Order of Shadows had The Darkness and were close to summoning it, they couldn’t let that happened, James might be ready for battle but Sara wasn’t she had only just recently learned that she was a Child of Light, they couldn’t just throw her into battle. She needed time to learn about her powers and how to unleash them. This was information Ronin would pass onto Master Thaddeus once he returned to Headquarters after rescuing Lillian. He made a quick note about it just in case something happened during this rescues mission.

Another twig snapped turning Ronin’s attention to the entrance out in the forest a deer came out from the bushes and Ronin could relax knowing that was what was causing the twigs to snap and not something else. The sun was just starting to set in the sky, prefect timing to continue on, according to the map he still had quite a track to take before he would finally reach the Tower under the cover of dark.

Deciding it was now or never Ronin grabbed his bag, kept the map within reach, as he headed north, the direction the magical arrow was pointed on the map. The sky was pitch black by the time Ronin made his next stop, the moonlight the only source of light as he stopped to check the map again.

He was only five miles away from the Tower now, Ronin had to be careful with his approach and be on the look out for the magical ward the Grand Mage had spoke to him about. The forest around him was silent, not even the sound of wild animals could be heard through the still of the night, this was very odd to Ronin something was not right.

His suspicion came true when the rush of footsteps heading right towards him broke the silence, he had just enough time to hide behind a tree and draw his knife hidden within the lining of his boot.

A figure darted out of the forest tree line, looking around wildly, Ronin could not get a good took through the dark forest to see who the figure was but he did feel this overwhelming sensation overcome his body, it would only mean one thing, “Ronin?”, a familiar voice rang out into the night. He did not understand how Lillian was there; he made sure to use caution as he slowly stepped out from behind the tree, knife still drawn in his hand.

The figure before him definitely looked like Lillian but how could he be sure it was not some trick by the enemy. Lillian took a small step towards him; Ronin clenched his knife, “Lillian? Is that truly you, how are you here?” he spoke deep down he knew it was her because of the bond they shared being this close to her, he could feel it.

That was something no enemy could fake, he knew Lillian felt it too because within a few moments she was running to him, embracing him hug tears streaming down her face, he slipped the knife into his pocket with his free hand, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her tight to him. As they stood their alone together in the middle of the forest clearing, Lillian told Ronin about everything that had happened.

From the traitor Guardian who kidnapped her, to the members of the dark Warlock Order and their plans to lastly how she had managed to escape the Tower. Lillian stated that there was no time to waste at some point the Warlocks were going to figure out that she had escaped and came looking for her.

Even though Ronin did not want to let her go he knew Lillian was right they needed to get far away from here before they were found. He moved his arms from her embrace, grabbing a sweater from his bag to wrap around her. Ronin was behind her as they walked back towards the outskirts of New Port, once they reached there he would be able to call for transport back to Guardian Headquarters, Ronin could rest easy once this was all over and done with.

Suddenly Lillian let out a scream as two black clocked figures appeared out of the blue and grabbed her, Ronin dropped his bag and went to try and help her, “Sancergio Nocterio”, a deep voice shouted from the darkness, an impure, emerald twisting coil trapped Ronin in place. The Warlock Ocrius stepped forward, dressed in full black robes surrounded by other Warlocks wearing the same thing.

A grin spread across his face, “Thank you Lillian for leading us right to the chosen one to rise our Master”, Ronin was confused he looked at Lillian, her eyes filled with panic and fear. He tried to move from the spot but he was stuck, black mist started to rise from the circle around him, crawling up his legs, when it made contact with the flesh of his skin it burned like nothing he had ever felt before. Ronin struggled against the pain as Lillian screamed his name repeatedly but he could not hear her anymore nor see her as his eyes closed, his body slumping to the ground, lying motionless.

Ocrius waved for the Warlocks to release Lillian and just as fast as they appeared, they disappeared without a trace. Lillian crawled over to Ronin’s lifeless body, trying to shake him awake but he did not move, she noticed black poison running through his once blue veins. She did not know what they had done to him but she needed help now, she had already almost lost him once she was not about to go down that road again. Lillian quickly searched Ronin’s bag for his phone to call for help.

It did not take long after Lillian called before a squadron of Guardians showed up lead by Master Thaddeus; two Guardians picked up Ronin and carried him away on a stretcher into the back of a black van, awaiting two Guardian Healers to attend to him.

Lillian wanted to go back with him but she needed to report what happened to Master Thaddeus first, the Master Guardian waved over a healer, “Let them take a look at you first, then tell me what happened”. Lilian went to say she did not need to be tended too but the Master Guardian waved her off, she had no choice than to let the Healers attend to her wounds. Lillian did however catch Master Thaddeus up on the current events that had taken place. She described in detail her escape from Vuzahr Tower, how ultimately they had ended up leaving it so she would escape and lead them right to Ronin.

She was worried about The Darkness being back and what this ancient unholy being wanted with Ronin. “I am not sure, but I will have my finest Healers on it, if they don’t know we might have too sought outside help or knowledge”.

Everything else that happened during the rest of the day seemed to blur together before Lillian knew it she was laying on her bed staring up at the ceiling not being able to sleep. Her mind kept going to places she did not want to even think about the possibility of Ronin not coming back, that The Darkness would take over the world. Lillian sighed deeply before leaving the bed slipping on a robe leaving the space of her chambers, she could not wait any longer she had to see Ronin, had to know that he was safe and what was going on.

Lillian managed to reach the Infirmary quite fast, only coming across Guardians doing night patrols; they simply nodded in her direction and carried on. She knocked lightly on the door, “Come in”, a voice on the outside informed her she could enter, one of the Head Healers for the Guardians was currently mixing herbs together in a mortar, he smiled and turned to face Lillian, “You’re here to see Guardian Ronin”, when Lillian nodded he continued, “Master Thaddeus advised us on the situation but I am afraid none of our Healers here have any knowledge on the curse placed upon Guardian Ronin. I did how ever send a message to the Healers with the House of the Royal Witches as they may have more knowledge on these things”

Once the Healer had finished mixing his herbs, he pasted it onto Ronin’s chest, this was the first time Lillian was seeing him since he had been cursed. The black poison had spread too much of his body, Lillian was so horrified that she took a few steps back sensing her un easiness the Healer spoke, “These herbs should help with any pain he might be having, its hard to tell anything as he hasn’t woken up yet”. Tears threatened to spill from her face causing Lillian to run from the room and out into the night, she did not know where she was going but she needed a distraction.